Family building desires among a sample of transgender and nonbinary students

Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) individuals may elect gender-affirming treatment that may affect their ability to have genetically-related children. The purpose of this study was to explore how the family-building goals of TNB college and graduate students shaped decisions about fertility preservation and gender-affirming care. Participants (N = 39) completed a phone interview and demographic survey about their experiences in higher education. Several themes developed as important in shaping TNB students’ family-related desires, including gender-affirming treatment priorities, and partner and financial considerations. Therapists and medical professionals can support this population by expanding family planning counseling options and providing sufficient counseling on the effects of gender affirming care

The association between HIV and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has confronted decades of the HIV epidemic with substantial improvements in access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Now, with improved survival, people living with HIV (PLWH) are at increased risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the existing literature regarding the association of CVD outcomes and HIV in SSA. Methods: We used the PRISMA guidelines to perform a systematic review of the published literature regarding the association of CVD and HIV in SSA with a focus on CVD surrogate and clinical outcomes in PLWH. Results: From January 2000 until March 2017, 31 articles were published regarding CVD outcomes among PLWH in SSA. Data from surrogate CVD outcomes (n = 13) suggest an increased risk of CVD events among PLWH in SSA. Although acute coronary syndrome is reported infrequently in SSA among PLWH, limited data from five studies suggest extensive thrombus and hypercoagulability as contributing factors. Additional studies suggest an increased risk of stroke among PLWH (n = 13); however, most data are from immunosuppressed ART-naïve PLWH and thus are potentially confounded by the possibility of central nervous system infections. Conclusions: Given ongoing gaps in our current understanding of CVD and other NCDs in PLWH in SSA, it is imperative to ascertain the burden of CVD outcomes, and to examine strategies for intervention and best practices to enhance the health of this vulnerable population. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-017-4940-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

A Digital Platform to Support HIV Case Management for Youth and Young Adults: Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

BackgroundAdvances in medical treatments in recent years have contributed to an overall decline in HIV-related opportunistic infections and deaths in youth; however, mortality and morbidity rates in perinatally and nonperinatally infected adolescents and young adults (AYA) living with HIV remain relatively high today. ObjectiveThe goal of this project was to assess the use, utility, and cost-effectiveness of PlusCare, a digital app for HIV case management in AYA living with HIV. The app supports routine case management tasks, such as scheduling follow-up visits, sharing documents for review and signature, laboratory test results, and between-visit communications (eg, encouraging messages). MethodsWe conducted a single-group mixed methods pre-post study with HIV case management programs in 2 large urban hospitals in the Boston metro area. Case management staff (case managers [CMs], N=20) and AYA living with HIV participants (N=45) took part in the study with access to PlusCare for up to 15 and 12 months, respectively. ResultsThe CMs and AYA living with HIV reported mean System Usability Scale scores of 51 (SD 7.9) and 63 (SD 10.6), respectively. Although marginally significant, total charges billed at 1 of the 2 sites compared with the 12 months before app use (including emergency, inpatient, and outpatient charges) decreased by 41% (P=.046). We also observed slight increases in AYA living with HIV self-reported self-efficacy in chronic disease management and quality of life (Health-Related Quality of Life-4) from baseline to the 12-month follow-up (P=.02 and P=.03, respectively) and increased self-efficacy from the 6- to 12-month follow-up (P=.02). There was no significant change in HIV viral suppression, appointment adherence, or medication adherence in this small-sample pilot study. ConclusionsAlthough perceived usability was low, qualitative feedback from CMs and use patterns suggested that direct messaging and timely, remote, and secure sharing of laboratory results and documents (including electronic signatures) between CMs and AYA living with HIV can be particularly useful and have potential value in supporting care coordination and promoting patient self-efficacy and quality of life. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03758066; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT0375806